2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in New York
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value public administration schools.
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2027 Best Value Public Administration Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
For return on investment in public administration, no school beat Cuny Bernard M Baruch College this year. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $13,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $58,595. That is a strong return on a $13,250 median debt. Cuny Bernard M Baruch College admits about 48% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned it the #2 place for public administration. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $13,895. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $57,673. That is a strong return on a $13,895 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
A rank of #3 makes Cuny Medgar Evers College one of the best values for public administration. Cuny Medgar Evers College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Brooklyn. In-state tuition and fees average $7,352, with out-of-state students paying around $15,302. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $19,187 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Cuny Medgar Evers College earn a median of $43,317 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,187 median debt. Cuny Medgar Evers College admits about 86% of applicants.
Suny Empire State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #4 spot this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $7,648, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $23,693 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Set against $23,693 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Suny At Albany earned it the #5 place for public administration. Located in the city of Albany, Suny At Albany is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,601 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $30,991. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $61,642. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Columbia University In The City Of New York came in at #6 for value in public administration this year. Located in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,258. Public Administration graduates of Columbia University In The City Of New York earn a median of $89,478 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Monroe College Main Campus ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Bronx, Monroe College Main Campus is a large private for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,464 in tuition and fees. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $20,701 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Monroe College Main Campus generally make around $40,329. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Suny College At Brockport ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,752, compared with $15,822 for out-of-state students. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $24,757 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $46,023 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,757 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #9 for value in public administration this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, compared with $30,447 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,691 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Suny At Binghamton generally make around $51,800. That is a strong return on a $20,691 median debt. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Hilbert College placed #10 among the best values for public administration. Hilbert College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hamburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,740. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Hilbert College generally make around $41,196. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Cornell University came in at #11 for value in public administration this year. Set in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,314. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $61,190. That is a strong return on a $15,005 median debt. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Metropolitan College Of New York ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of New York, Metropolitan College Of New York is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,188. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $42,218 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Metropolitan College Of New York earn a median of $49,765 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $42,218 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
New York University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. New York University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $62,796. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of New York University earn a median of $82,887 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Syracuse University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $65,528. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $26,000. Public Administration graduates of Syracuse University earn a median of $68,350 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
Marist College landed the #15 spot for public administration value this year. Located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,620. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $25,962 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Marist College generally make around $84,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
